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What is MIS?

MIS is short for Management Information Systems and is the name of an academic discipline and major which focuses on solving business problems and creating new opportunities with technology. MIS is also often shortened to Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT). Learn more about MIS in this short video featuring students and faculty.

What is an MIS system?

MIS systems gather, process, and manage information. For example, MIS systems help customers order airline tickets online and withdraw cash from automated teller machines. MIS systems are also crucial in payroll processing, accounting systems, and in websites such as Amazon.com.

What are the salary ranges for MIS professionals?

Entry-level salaries for students with an undergraduate degree in MIS are between $50,000-$60,000. See http://isjobindex.com.

Who works in MIS?

MIS professionals are business-oriented, technically proficient individuals who are found in every type of industry from health-care and banking to media and gaming, as well as in the high tech industry such as Facebook and Lockheed Martin. The majority of MIS professionals work in user organizations such as QVC, Pfizer, Campbell Soup, NBCUniversal and consulting firms such as LiquidHub.

How is MIS different from computer science?

Computer science focuses on the technology itself and less on its business application. MIS professionals apply technology to business needs.

MIS and computer science courses may seem similar but there are major differences in their content and how they are taught. Computer science (CS) (occasionally termed Computer and Information Science – CIS) students take courses that will help them better understand technology, like math and physics classes. MIS students take courses that will help them understand business problems, like accounting and marketing. Neither one is better than the other – they’re just different.

MIS

Computer Science (CS) or
Computer and Information Science (CIS)

Acquire business applications by building, integrating or purchasing systems

Build and extend technology to solve complex problems

Motivated by using the computer as a tool to solve problems or create digital innovation

Motivated by how the computer works

Emphasis is on understanding business problems and producing business innovation

Emphasis is on programming complex software

Integrate available components in high-level development environments

Typically trained in writing large programs from scratch using traditional programming languages

Analyze corporate “big” data with analytics

Create algorithms that, for example, will sort the data

What do MIS professionals do?

MIS professionals are leaders who initiate, design, and apply technology to transform business functions and produce innovative products and services. Check out I love IT.

Analyst

Study business problems and implement systems to solve them

Consultant

Analyze problems and change business processes

Application developer

Develop software to gather and store data

Data analyst

Extracts and analyzes organizational data

Project leader

Organize a team of analysts, programmers and others to create an innovative solution

Learn more in this short video featuring MIS students

What type of programming do you do in MIS?

An MIS professional will know how to code but will typically lead others who code for a living. Some MIS professionals will write code to create innovative new applications (e.g., a new App).

What are the prospects for women in MIS?

Women are leaders in MIS in many of top firms in the nation. Learn more about women in IT.

What is the current demand for MIS workers?

There will always be a need for tech savvy business professionals. Remember, technology is the engine of business. For the most current placement rates see http://isjobindex.com.